To Stay Or Not Is Pilots' Question

WARNER HESSLER

Questions, questions. We've got some more questions this morning. And in keeping with our Saturday morning practice, we'll ask only the ones for which we have answers.

Question - What's the latest with our Peninsula Pilots? Are they staying or leaving?

Answer - We should find out on June 30. That's the day owner Jay Acton of New York plans to make a decision on whether to keep the Carolina League team in Hampton for another year or move it to another city before next season.

Question - Why would Acton make his decision and announce it halfway through the season?

Answer - He may not announce it. Reporters may have to dig deep to find it, but Acton is serious about finding the best location for his $600,000 franchise.

Question - I hear the Pilots' situation is pretty bad. How bad is it?

Answer - Probably worse than you've heard. It costs about $400,000 to cover expenses this season, including debt payments to former owners Gil and Gilinda Granger, and Acton projects a loss of about $250,000. At their current average of 163 fans per game, the Pilots will draw around 10,000 fans this season, sure to be the lowest of the 180 minor league teams.

Question - Why is June 30 the magic date?

Answer - Franchise supporters say attendance doesn't pick up until the weather is warm and school is out. The weather is definitely warm right now, and school will soon be out. If attendance doesn't pick up by the end of the month, there will be no excuses.

Question - What do you think of John Brophy returning to the area to coach the Hampton Roads Admirals?

Answer - What a stroke of luck that the former coach of the Hampton Gulls and the Toronto Maple Leafs is available and willing to guide the Admirals in their first season in the East Coast Hockey League. This franchise is looking better every day.

Question - What kind of team will the Admirals have?

Answer - The Norfolk-based team should be a power. The Admirals should be strong because Brophy's a heck of a coach. But there's more. The ECHL is composed primarily of young players looking for a break, and you can bet every kid without a pro contract will want to play for Brophy because of his National Hockey League contacts. This past Wednesday morning, several hours before he signed a contract, Brophy was in his new office talking to three young hockey players who want to play for him next season.

Question - Brophy was really popular when he coached in Hampton during the 1970s. Has his signing affected season ticket sales in Norfolk?

Answer - It's still too soon to tell, but the Admirals took 12 season ticket orders in an hour after they opened for business Thursday morning. They have sold about 350 season tickets and hope to sell 1500 by October.

Question - Are we ever going to see Pernell Whitaker fight on national television again?

Answer - Not anytime soon. The world lightweight champion from Norfolk does most of his fighting in Norfolk or Hampton, and all are blacked out locally. His next title defense on Aug. 20 against Jose Luis Ramirez will probably be in either Norfolk or Hampton, although Trump Plaza in Atlantic City is making a strong bid. Whitaker has fought just twice in out-of-town fights that were telecast locally. Promoter Dan Duva wanted Whitaker's title defense last month against Louie Lomeli in Atlantic City so Hampton Roads fans could see it on television, but Whitaker wanted it in Norfolk and got his way.

Question - Could the fight against Ramirez be in Hampton?

Answer - It could. Duva has been stabbed quite frequently by a poison pen in the Norfolk media, and sources say the Duvas - promoter Dan and trainer Lou - are leaning toward staging the Ramirez fight in Hampton. Where does Whitaker want to fight? "It doesn't matter," said Lou Duva. "Pernell will fight where we tell him."

Question - What's the nature of the attacks on the Duvas?

Answer - The attacker contends boxing should be banned and the price of tickets is too high. In terms of injury and permanent disability, boxing is far less dangerous than auto racing and football. And the ticket price scale - $20-$30-$40 - is the lowest in the country for championship fights. The attacks are pretty lame.